Information Handling System Display Detachable Bezel with Reduced Reflectance

The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system displays, and more particularly to an information handling system display detachable bezel with reduced reflectance.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Information handling systems process information to present the information as visual images at a display. Stationary information handling systems have a processor and memory that cooperate to execute instructions in a stationary housing and interact with end users through peripheral input/output (I/O) devices, such as a peripheral keyboard, mouse and display. Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, a display and a power source in a portable housing to support mobile operations. Portable information handling systems allow end users to carry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home and office locations so that an end user has access to processing capabilities while mobile. Portable information handling systems will also typically interact with end users through peripheral I/O devices. As an example, a peripheral display is often preferred for presentation of visual images due to the greater display area than that typically found at an integrated display.

2 FIG. 52 42 40 36 38 40 36 44 44 46 44 48 46 50 Generally, end users prefer displays that have a full viewing area without an excessive border. Such zero or minimal bezel displays take up less space on the desktop and are more aesthetically pleasing. One way to minimize the bezel size is to decrease the thickness of any protective glass coupled over the display panel by flipping the display panel thin film transistor and color filter layers.depicts an example of a display panelthat has a flip structure. A backlight illuminates through a polarizerand a color filterto provide light that passes through a thin film transistorthat generates the visual image. A black matrixbetween the color filterand thin film transistordefines the edge of the viewing area around the perimeter of the display panel. Light passing through pixels of the thin film transistor layer proceeds through a polarizerthat defines the visual image for presentation to an end user. Between the thin film transistor and polarizer, copper metalthat is used to communicate visual image signals can be visible at the upper side of polarizer. In particular, inbound light raysthat reflect off of copper metalcreates a reflectancethat impedes end user viewing of visual images. In one example embodiment, reflectance is twice that of the same display panel having the non-flipped orientation of the color filter at the display panel outer surface. The conventional color filter position does not cause reflectance where external light is absorbed by the black matrix layer placed on the color filter.

One way to reduce display panel reflectance ratio is to have a better mechanical fit and better cosmetics with narrow bezel at the display panel bottom side where copper is present. To achieve a better fit, a thin metal stainless steel or similar metal material is coupled at the display panel bottom side with an adhesive resin between the metal and the panel glass. A difficulty with the use of an adhesive is that removal of the metal bezel to perform repairs often results in damage to the display panel. Generally, if a repair calls for removal of a bezel held by adhesive, the display panel is likely to be discarded, resulting in an expensive and wasteful repair.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which couples a metal bezel to a display without adhesive.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for coupling a bezel to a display panel. A magnetic martensite stainless steel bezel couples to a display panel with magnetic attraction provided by a magnet at the display frame and/or display panel.

More specifically, an information handling system processes information with a processor and memory that cooperate to execute instructions. The information is presented at a display as visual images. The display couples a display panel in a frame and covers a bottom portion of the display panel with a bezel that hides areas of the display panel that do not present a visual image. The bezel is a thin martensite stainless steel that couples to the display frame with magnetic attraction to a magnet located behind the bezel between the frame and display panel.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a display couples a display panel in a frame with a bottom side partially covered by an overlap of a bezel at the display panel. The bezel is magnetic martensite stainless steel that is held in place by magnetic attraction of a magnet coupled at the display frame and/or display panel. The display disassembles the display panel by lifting the bezel from the bottom side of the display panel and away from the magnet. Magnetic coupling of the bezel avoids damage to the display panel at disassembly, such as when the display is repaired.

An information handling system display has a bezel magnetically coupled at a bottom side of a display panel to overlap a color filter and thin film transistor of the display panel. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

1 FIG. 10 34 68 10 14 14 16 18 20 18 22 24 26 12 28 30 Referring now to, an exploded perspective view depicts an information handling systeminterfaced with a peripheral displayhaving a magnetic martensite stainless steel bezel. In the example embodiment, information handling systemhas a portable housing that integrates a displayin a lid portion. Processing components coupled in the main portion cooperate to process information that is presented at displayas visual images. For example, a central processing unit (CPU)executes instructions to process information in cooperation with a random access memorythat stores the instructions and information. A solid state drive (SSD)includes non-transitory memory that stores instructions and information during power down of the system, such as an operating system and applications that are retrieved to RAMby an embedded controllerduring power up. A wireless network interface controller (WNIC)communicates with external devices, such as through Ethernet, WIFI and BLUETOOTH. A housing covercouples to housingto enclose the processing components and support a keyboardand touchpadthat accept end user inputs.

32 10 34 68 34 68 403 66 66 66 68 68 68 10 In the example embodiment, a display cableinterfaces information handling systemwith a peripheral displaythat presents information as visual images. To minimize the peripheral display footprint, a narrow bezel surrounds a display panel having a “flipped” display panel layer assembly that exposes copper wire lines to generate reflections at a bottom side of the display panel. A thin bezelcouples to peripheral displayat the bottom side of the display panel to overlap the portions of the thin film transistor that exposes copper. In the example embodiment, bezelis a planar magnetic martensite stainless steel material, such as SUS, that couples to the peripheral display with magnetscoupled to the frame of the peripheral display. Although the example embodiment depicts separate individual magnets, a magnetic strip that runs the length of the display panel may also be used. Magnetsmay couple to the display frame by magnetic attraction or may be coupled to the display panel or display panel with adhesive. Magnetic attachment of bezelsupports removal of the bezel with a slight prying action that leaves the magnets in place on the display and removes the bezel without any damage to the display panel. Although the example embodiment depicts bezelcoupled to the peripheral display, in an alternative embodiment bezelmay couple to an integrated display of information handling system.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 52 42 40 36 44 46 48 50 38 Referring now to, a block diagram depicts an example of a display panel having a flipped arrangement of display panel layers. Conventional display panels have backlight illumination passed through a thin film transistor that manages pixel colors and then passes the light through a color filter. In the flipped display panelstructure depicted by, backlight illumination passes through a lower polarizerand then a color filter. After the color filter, the light passes through a thin film transistorthat defines the visual image and out an upper polarizer. Copper metalincluded in the thin film transistor reflects light raysout as light rayswithout the benefit of black matrixplaced on the display panel edge to cover the electronics.

3 FIG. 62 60 52 58 56 62 60 40 60 62 36 38 54 62 62 60 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a prior art display bezelcoupled to a display panel by adhesive. When the display panelcouples into display frameat a backlighta bezelcouples to the display panel front side with an adhesivelocated at a color filter. Adhesivepermanently couples bezelin a position that overlaps the thin film transistorto cover the bottom portion of the display panel that is not hidden by black matrix. A rear covercouples at the rear of the display panel. The permanent adhesive holds bezelin place at the display panel so that separation of bezelby pulling on adhesivewill likely result in damage to the display panel.

4 4 FIGS.andA 4 FIG. 4 FIG.A 68 68 66 58 66 40 66 58 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a display panel bottom side protected by an orthogonal shaped bezel. The orthogonal shaped bezelis bent martensite stainless steel having a planar front portion that magnetically couples to magnetand an orthogonal portion that projects rearward within a gap formed in frame. The display panel presents an appearance of the bezel ending at the frame on the bottom side. Magnetextends from the color filterto rest against the frame front surface above the gap. Magnetmay couple in place with adhesive or by magnetic attraction to frame.depicts the bezel aligned with a bottom side of a polarizer applied to the display panel front side.depicts the bezel overlapping the polarizer at the display panel front side.

5 5 FIGS.A andB 4 FIG.A 4 FIG.B 66 403 52 58 54 58 64 66 68 52 68 44 52 66 68 40 58 64 66 64 58 40 68 36 38 52 68 66 66 58 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a display having a stainless steel bezel magnetically coupled to a display panel bottom side.depicts a magnetand a martensite magnetic stainless steel, such as SUS, aligned to couple in place at a display panelcoupled in a frameand rear cover. Framehas a supporting stepformed to have a notch structure on which magnetand bezelrest when assembled to display panel. Bezelhas a thin structure with a length sufficient to extend from the frame bottom step structure up to the start of polarizeron the front side of display panel. Magnethas a T shape with a planar front face that couples to bezeland an extension at a rear sides that fits against color filterand framestep.depicts magnetcoupled in place to rest on the stepof frameand resting against color filterto hold bezelin place with an overlap of thin film transistorup to black matrix. The result is an aesthetically pleasing display panel appearance that hides the bottom side of display panelunder a strong yet thin bezelmade of stainless steel and removable by separation from magnet. Magnetmay couple by magnetic attraction to framewithout the use of any adhesives or may have an adhesive applied.

6 FIG. 68 66 66 36 58 66 40 58 66 40 58 68 36 58 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a display panel bottom side protected by a planar bezelcoupled to a planar magnet. In the example embodiment, planar magnetfits in a slot defined between the bottom of thin film transistorand the bottom of frameat a step so that the rear side of magnetis supported by color filterand frame. In one example embodiment, magnetis a flexible tape magnet that couples by an adhesive to color filterand by magnetic attraction to frame. Bezelis martensite stainless steel and overlaps thin film transistorat a top side and fits into a step formed in frameat a bottom side.

7 FIG. 68 68 66 40 36 66 58 68 58 68 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a display panel bottom side protected by an alternative embodiment of the orthogonal shaped bezel. A planar portion of bezelcouples against magnet, which is held by adhesive to color filterso that the bezel planar portion overlaps thin film transistoradjacent the black matrix. Magnethas a smaller size so that frameextends forward to abut against the bezel planar portion. The orthogonal portion of bezelhas an increased length to insert into the gap formed in frameto offer increased stability of bezel.

8 FIG. 68 68 66 36 58 58 68 68 58 Referring now to, a side sectional view depicts a display panel bottom side protected by an alternative embodiment of the orthogonal shaped bezelhaving an orthogonal T shape. Bezelhas a planar portion that magnetically couples to the display panel with a magnetto overlap thin film transistorand extend down to the bottom side of frame. Frameat the bottom has a slight indentation where two bends formed in bezeldirects the bezel orthogonal portion back towards the display panel where a third bend inserts an orthogonal portion of bezelinto the gap formed in frame. The bottom side of the display has a solid bezel appearance without showing the frame and the bezel securely inserts into the frame gap to hold its position.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.